Blind



BLIND Filed Dec. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/6722507".

I I I ][67Z7 J. Jaw/272. 4

- M54 rank flitorrzgg 1941- H. J. MACKIN 2,265,651

BLIND Filed Dec. 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

BLIND Henry J. Mackln, Kankakee, Ill.

Application December 20, 1940, Serial No. 370,994

19 Claims.

6 is mounted on the structural member 3. It comprises a generally tubular member of more or less rectangular cross section and is shaped to provide a longitudinal opening or slot 6 which is bounded by the outwardly extending edges 1 formed preferably integrally with the material of the tubular member 6, which edges may be nently fastened together, as, for example, by

bolts, screws, welding or other means. Another object is to provide a Venetian blind-tilting mechanism.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the specification and the claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation from the insideof the blind looking toward a window or opening in which the blind may be positioned. Parts are broken away and parts are in section;

Figure 2 is a transverse horizontal section taken at line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken at line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail on an enlarged scale showing the shaft-carrying means positioned at the righthand side of Figures 1 and 2. It may be considered as taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2; I

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail taken at line 5--5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale, showing the shaft-supporting means and tilting means positioned at the lefthand side of Figures 1 and 2. It may be considered as having been taken at line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional detail taken at line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional detail taken at line 88 of Figure 6.

Like parts are designated by like characters throughout the specification and the drawings.

While the Venetian blind of this invention may be mounted in many different arrangements, as shown herewith, it is mounted adjacent a window and within the window opening or trim which is indicated diagrammatically by the upper member I, the lower member 2 and side members 3 and 4. to any particular mounting or to mounting in any particular location. 7

As shown, a righthand hollow guide member The invention is in no way limited inwardly bent as at 6, if desired. The righthand guide 6 isvpreferably cut away adjacent its top to provide an opening or door 6, the purpose of which will be described below.

On the opposite or lefthand side of the blind construction is provided a guide member 10 which is generally the same as the member 5. It is slotted longitudinally as at I I, the slot being bounded by the outwardly bent edges 12 of the material which forms the guide ill. They may be rearwardly bent as at ii, if desired. Near its bottom, each of the guides 5 and It) may be engaged by a saddle-like member I! which is placed across the lower end of the slots 6 and II, and whoseedges may be bent about the flanges 1 or I2 is at ii, if desired. These yokes are preferably held in place by screws l6 whose headsengage the yokes l4 and which. pass through suitable perforations in the guides 5 and I6 and engage the window frame or other structural member 3 or. as indicated particularly at I1, 11 in Figure 1. Mounted on each of the screws l6 may be a roller 16 grooved as at IQ for a purpose which will bedescribed below.

A shaft assembly, whichwill be described more in detail below, is arranged to raise and lower the blind which is to be hung between the guides just described. At one end the shaft is supported inI'a bearing and means are provided at that end for rotating the shaft. At the other end, the shaft is supported in a second bearing and means are provided at that end .for tilting the blind. The driving end of the shaft support will first be described.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blind raising and lowering means are driven atthe righthand end. The means for so driving the blind comprise a housing member 20, having a flange 2| along one side, the flange being cut away as at 22 and notched as at 23. At its top, the housing 26 is provided with a relatively larger flange 24 which extends to the right as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and this flange is provided with two downwardly depending ears 25, 25, which are separated from the fiange 2| by slots 26, 26. The housing 26 is provided with a generally tubular section 21 within which ..is formed a ball race 26, within which are mounted ball bearings 29.

' bearings or to any particular form of such bearings when they are used. The bearings shown 4 are merely indicative of the possibility of includ-.-

ing anti-friction bearings, if desired. At its inner end, the tubular section 3| has seatedupon it a sprocket wheel 33, which may be retained on the tube in any desired manner. As shown, several cars 34 are upset from the section 3| and hold the sprocket 33 in place thereon. The tubular section 3| may be slotted as at 35.

j When the parts are to be assembled, the guide- 5 being in the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the housing 20 slides into place, the notches 23 engaging the inward bent edges 8 of the flanges I, and the ears 25 fitting into the upper open end of the guide 5, the front walls of the guide passing into the slots 26. With the parts thus assembled, a screw 36 may be inserted through the opening 31 in the housing 26, and passing through a suitable corresponding opening in the' back of the guide 5 65. At its inneriend, the gear 66 has formed 7 upon it a worm gear 68. The tubular portion of the member 66 is provided with two sets of slots which are arranged as shown, for example, in Figure 7;, a lower set of slots 68' and an upper set of slots I8 are also provided. It may also be provided with a longitudinal depression 'Il.

The worm gear and associated parts Just de-' scribed comprise part of the tilting means and are enclosed within a housing 12 which is provided with a flange 18 which engages the guide projections 63 and. 64 and is held in place on the housing 43 by one or more screws 14. The flange I3 is thickened as at 15 to provide bearings for the shaft 16 of a worm II which is mounted for rotation with a pocket or depression 18. A cord guide includes a hub"l9 and a yoke construnction 88 and is mounted for rotation about the shaft 16. A cord engaging pulley 8| is secured on the shaft 18 and by means of it the shaft may be rotated. The pulley may, as

' here shown, be formed of two separate parts this screw is seated in a portion of the struc-' tural member 3, as shown at 38. As a means for covering the opening 9 in the guide member 5, ahood 39 may be used. Whil this hood may be of many different forms, as shown, it is generally trough-like or U-shaped in cross section; it has a short side 46, a longer side 4| which terminates in an inwardly bent flange 42 which, as shown particularly in Figure 2, is engaged at one side between the flange I and the rearwardly bent flange 8 along one side of the opening 6 in the guide 5. This member is held in place by the friction of the parts alone and need not have other fastening.

At its opposite end, the shaft supporting mechanism is, as-shown, at the left of Figures -1and2andindetailinFigures 6, 7 and8. This assembly includes a housing 43 generally similar to the housing 28. It has a flange 44, cut away as at 45, and notched as at 46. It has the extended rearward flange 41' which terminates in downwardly extending ears 48 separated by slots 48 from the flange 44. It may be held in place by a screw 59 which passes through the opening 5| in the housing-4'3 and extends into the structural member 4 as at 52. Similarly, to the housing 28, it includes a tubular section 53 within which is a ball race 54 in which ball bearings 55 fastened together or may be otherwise made. It may be attached to the shaft in any manner desired. As shown, the end of the shaft is riveted over as at 82 to, hold the pulley fixed upen it. The housing 12 is shaped to engage a shoulder 83 on the gear 66 to prevent its outward displacement.

The two tubular sections above describednamely, the parts 3| and 5'|-are arranged to receive the ends of a shaft 84 which, as here shown, is fitted at one end into each of the are positioned. An inner ball race 56 is secured to a'tubular member 51. A- retainer 58 may be used, if desired. At its inner end, generally with the housing 43, the tube 51 has fixed upon it a sprocket 58 which is held in place by a number of ears 69 upset from the end of the tube 51. The tube may be slotted at its opposite endas'at 6|.

The tubular section 53 may be enlarged as at 82, this enlargement merging into the outer face of the housing 43. A guide flange or projection 63 is formed in the outer face of the housing 43 and one or more guide projections 64 may be formed toward the bottom of the housing 43 and adjacent the enlargement 62 of the tubular member 53. At the point where the tubular member 53 joins the enlargement 62, a shoulder 65 is formed; and against this a generally hollow, tilting worm gear 66 is adapted to;flt. The bearing portion 61 of the gear 66 bears upon the outer surface of the tubular tubular sections and is held against rotation by a cotter pin 85 or 86, which cotter pins engage,

respectively, the slots 35 and 6|. The shaft might be secured to the tubular sections in any other desired manner.

The blind itself comprises anupper tilting rail which, as shown, may be made of metal and includes a partially rounded section 81 which is formed integrally with two flat side portions 88, 88. Adjacent its righthand end, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the tilting rail has secured within it an attaching member 88 which includes two lateral members or side portions 86, 88, which may be held in place in the rail by set screws 8|, 9|, which includes also a rounded section 82 which extends preferably somewhat more than 180 degrees.- As shown particularly in Figure 1, this section 82 extends into the space between the members-2,1 and 3| and thus centers and supports the tilting rail with respect to the righthand assembly. At its oppo ite or lefthand end, ,the rail extends into the slots 68,

' 68 of the member 66 and, since the member 86 member 53 and may bear against the shoulder isarranged to be tilted by the rotation of the worm TI, the rail itself is thus adapted to be tilted.

Secured to the rail, in any suitable manner, are one or more pairs of tapes 83. These tapes are preferably provided with "ladder portions 84 which join the tapes of each pair and, thus, each pair of tapes may support a slat 85 upon its "ladder. Preferably, at least two pairs of tapes will be used as shown and there as shown are generaly flat and may be provided with tongues 86 which pass through-the slots 6 and I l and arethus guided by the guide channel members. The bottom-most slat 81 may, if desired, be made heavier than slats 85 and the tapes may be secured to this slat, if desired. If it is so secured. tacks 88 or other fastening means may be used.

will thus be two I ladder portions 85 for each slat. The slats A'tilting cord 00, having handles I00, may be positioned about the tilting pulley BI within the yoke 80, as shown. Movement of 'the tilting cord in either direction will rotate the pulley III, the worm 11, the gear 50, and, thus, will tilt the tilting slat 01 and by moving the tapes will tilt the slats.

The weight of the blind, when it is raised, is carried not so much on the tapes as on a bottomraising or supporting rail IOI. As shown, this rail is positioned vertically and extends at each end into the guides 5 and I0. It fits loosely into a. shoe member I02 which is provided with ears or lugs I 03, I03 which, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 3, engage that portion of the bottom rail IOI which lies within the guide members 5 and I or within the respective flanges of those members or within the slots between the flanges. The shoes I02 are provided with extended guiding and bearing surfaces I04. As shown in Figure 3, one such shoe is positioned so that its guiding surface I04 will contact the inner surface of one side of the guide channel 5. Whether it is in close contact with that member or not is unimportant. It is generally guided and the parts are prevented from turning sufficiently to correct cramping or locking of the parts. Lifting chains I05 and I06 are secured, respectively, to the right and lefthand ends of the lifting rail MI. The chain I05 is positioned about and engages the sprocket 33. Its other or free end passes outward through the opening 9 and extends downwardly as at I01, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. At the opposite or lefthand side the chain I05 engages the sprocket 59. At one end thischain is fastened to the lefthand shoe I02, and at its other end it is fastened to a cord I00 which is positioned about the lefthand roller I8 in its groove I9.

For some purposes and for some uses it is desirable to provide a cover above the tilting rail so that when the latter is in the extreme tilted position the shaft and tape fastenings are covered. For that purpose, a member I09 which may have side flanges I I0 is used. At the righthand end, as shown in Figure 2, it is held in place by the screws 9|. At its other end, as shown in Figures 2 and '7, it fits into the notches or slots 10.

As a means for holding the blind in any selected position up or down, a hook I I I is attached to or formed as a part of the guide member 5. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, it is engaged in one of the loops of the chain I01. The weight of the chain and associated parts is such that whenever the chain is released it will automatically engage one of its links upon the hook III.

I claim:

1. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

2. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned oneon each sideof said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slots, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket, said lifting bar provided with a guide shoe at each end, each guide shoe engaging one of said guide members.

3. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, said slats having projections entering said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

4. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned each on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means carried by one of said first mentioned housings for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

5. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to he slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts and provided with projections to engage said slots, 7

,said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats and extending at each end to one of said guides, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

6.'In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, anda pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upperwend of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stubshaIfts and provided with projections to engage said slots, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats and extending at each end to one of said guides, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket, said lifting bar provided with a guide shoe at each end, each guide shoe engaging one of said guide members.

9. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guidingand operating structure, includ-' ing a pair of hollow slotted guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the open upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft and lying within its respective guide member, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means'carried by one of said first mentioned housings for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

10. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a. pair of hollow slotted guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the open upper end of 'a guide,

' and a stub shaft in each of said housing memprovided with a guide shoe at each end, each guide shoe engaging one of said'guide members.

7. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supportin guiding and operating structure, including a pair of hollow slotted guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of.said

blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to beslipped over the open upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, aplurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at at each end of said raising-bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

8. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of hollow slotted guide members adapted tobe positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to he slipped over the open upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a-sprocket .on the inner end of said stub shaft, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto,-and means for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar position'ed below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said'sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing l after passing over its sprocket, said lifting bar bers, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft and lying within its respective guide member, and a. shaft having its ends attached to saidstub shafts, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a. tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means carried by one of said first mentioned housings for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising her, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket, said lifting bar provided with a guide shoe at each end, each guide shoe engaging one of said guide members.

11. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft, each of said stub shafts being slotted at the end opposite itssprocket, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts and provided with projections to engage said slots, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, said slats having projections entering said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member p0-' sitioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means carried by one of said first mentioned housings for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising barpositioned below said slats and extending at each end to one of said guides, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of said chains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

12. In combination in a Venetian blind, a supporting, guiding and operating structure, including a pair of hollow slotted guide members adapted to be positioned one on each side of said blind, and a pair of housing members, each adapted to be slipped over the open upper end of a guide, and a stub shaft in each of said housing members, a sprocket on the inner end of said stub shaft and lying within its respective guide member, each of said stub shafts being slotted at the end opposite its sprocket, and a shaft having its ends attached to said stub shafts and provided with projections to engage said slots, a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, said slats having projections entering said guides, a plurality of tapes supporting said slats, a tilting member positioned adjacent said shaft, said tapes being secured thereto, and means carried by one of said first mentioned housings for tilting said tilting member to tilt said slats, and a raising bar positioned below said slats and extending at each end to one of said guides, and flexible means secured one at each end of said raising bar, each passing over one of said sprockets, one of saidfchains extending outwardly from its housing after passing over its sprocket.

13. In combination in a Venetian blind suitable for installation in door and window openings, a pair of lateral hollow channel guide members having longitudinal openings along one side, said guide members being adapted to fit against the inner surface of the opening in which the blind is installed, a tilting and hoisting assembly including a shaft, a tilting member movably mounted adjacent thereto,'a pair of housing and bearing members, each housing member having rotatably mounted within it a shaft section carrying a pulley on its inner end in line with its respective guide member, the first mentioned shaft removably engaging said stub shaft sections, and a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, and a plurality of ladder tape members positioned about and supporting said slats, the upper ends of said ladder tapes being secured to said tilting member, and means for tilting said tilting member, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, flexible hoisting means engaged at each end of said raising bar, each hoisting means being passed over one of said pulleys.

14. In combination in a Venetian blind suitable for installation in door and window open-= ings, a pair of lateral hollow channel guide members having longitudinal openings along one side, said guide members being adapted to fit against the inner surface of the opening in which the blind is installed, a tilting and hoisting assembly including a shaft, a tilting member movably mounted adjacent thereto, a pair of housing and bearing members, each adapted to be slidably engaged upon the upper end of one of said guide members, each housing member having rotatably mounted within it a shaft section carrying a pulley on its inner end in line with its respective guide member, the first mentioned shaft removably engaging said stub shaft sections, and a plurality of slats positioned between said guides,

and a plurality of ladder tape members positioned about and supporting said slats, the upper ends of said ladder tapes being secured to said tilting member, and means for tilting said tilting member, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, flexible hoisting means engaged at each end of said raising bar, each hoisting means being passed over one of said pulleys.

15. In combination in a Venetian blind suitable for installation in door and window openings, a pair of lateral hollow channel guide members having longitudinal openings along one side, said guide members being adapted to fit against the inner surface of the opening in which the blind is installed, a tilting and hoisting assembly including a shaft, a tilting member movably mounted adjacent thereto, a pair of housing and bearing members, said tilting member supported therein, each housing member having rotatably mounted within it a shaft section carrying a pulley on its innerend in line with its respective guide member, the first mentioned shaft removably engaging said stub shaft sections, and a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, and a plurality of ladder tape members positioned about and supporting said slats, the upper ends of said ladder tapes being secured to said tilting member, and means for tilting said tilting member, and a raising bar positioned below said slats, flexible hoisting means engaged at each end of said raising bar, each hoisting means being passed over one of said pulleys.

16. In combination in a Venetian blind suitable for installation in door and window openings, a pair of lateral hollow channel guide members having longitudinal openings along one side, said guide members being adapted to fit against the inner surface of the opening in which the blind is installed, a tilting and hoisting assembly including a shaft, a tilting member movably mounted adjacent thereto, a pair of housing and bearing members, said tilting member supported therein, and each adapted to be slidably engaged upon the upper end of one of said guide members, each housing member having rotatably mounted within it a shaft section carrying a p ley on its inner end in line with its respective guide member, the first mentioned shaft removably engaging said stub shaft sections, and a plurality of slats positioned between said guides, said slats having end projections projecting within the slots in said guides, and a plurality of ladder tape members positioned about and supporting said slats, the upper ends of said ladder tapes being secured to said tilting member, and means for tilting said tilting member, and a raising bar positioned below said slats and having its ends engaged within the slots of said guide, flexible hoisting means engaged at each end of said raising bar, each hoisting means being passed over one of said pulleys, one of said flexible hoisting means extending outwardly from a point above its sprocket to a point of ready engagement for hoisting operation.

' 17. In a support assembly for Venetian blinds, a plurality of interfltting parts, including two guide members and two housing members slidabl fitting one on each guide, and a stub shaft positioned within each housing-member for rotation, and a shaft extending between said stub shafts and interfitting with each of them, whereby the stub shafts are connected for simultaneous and equal rotation, and a tilting member. bearing and engaging members secured on said tilting member and interfitting with said housing members.

18. In a support assembly for Venetian blinds, a plurality of interfitting parts, including two guide members and two housing members slidably fitting one on each guide, and a stub shaft ositioned within each housing member for rotation, and a shaft extending between said stub shafts and interfitting with each of them, whereby the stub shafts are connected for simultaneous and equal rotation, and a tilting member, bearing and engaging members secured on said tiltmembers, and means on one of said housing members engaging said tilting member and adapted to rotate it.

19. In a support assembly for Venetian blinds,

a. plurality of interiitting parts, including two guide members and two housing members slidably fitting one on each guide, and, stub shaft positioned within each housing member for rotation, and a shaft extending between said stub 10 2,265,651 a ing member and interiitting with said housing 

